My Sibling The Mythical Being! discussion

This is a topic where you can discuss the first book in the My Sister the Vampire series.

Please beware of spoilers if you haven't read this book yet, because this discussion DOES allow them. Thanks and have fun!

What does everyone think of us all reading Switched in Feb 2014? Then we can discuss it as we read it and it will just be cool to read the first one in the series again. Then in the next month we could read the next book. Thoughts?

I would LOVE to. (and if you've seen my other comments you will know I getting a bit obsessed to the idea!)

Sure I wouldn't mind

Ok.

Awesome

Aww, this so cool seeing Switched on the group shelf!

(:

ONE DAY until we can start reading this book! Of course, you don't have to start reading it on the first of Febuary, but you could if you wanted to!

I don't really care when we read it.

Finished! Started on the 5th finished today. LOVED it! ;)

At the part where Ivy and Olivia do a switch - except there is two Ivys (so that she can be at the ball meeting and on the date with Brendan) they creep out of the window so that Ivy's dad doesn't see them. But then they walk down the drive - can you imagine if her dad had seen them, or if anyone had seen them, you know someone could have been walking past. lol!

I read it all in one go last night and I can't believe how much I love these books; it has only really just dawned on me. Sienna Mercer is a genius!

In reply to Daisy's comment above it never actually says they just stroll down the driveway (although I have to admit it's much funnier that way and that's how I imagine it!) it just says 'A minute later, they'd reached the bottom of the driveway.' They could have crept in the shadows. Also how long is Ivy's driveway? :)

My favorite parts were Ivy and Brendans first date 'Ivy couldn't help recalling what Olivia had said about boys who asked questions. Boyfriend material!' ahhhhhhh; I love Brendan! And also the part where Sophia works out that Olivia is not Ivy and they go to watch Ivy cheerleading! LOVE THIS BOOK

Yup, Sienna Mercer is a genius!
Oh! I got an idea! Maybe you can start a discussion about Sienna Mercer! :)

One week to read this book before we move on to the second one (Fangtastic!) :)

Hey you guys! I've just been looking at the different editions of the MSTV books you can get in different countries and here's a couple of them:

I can't be sure but I think this one's in Italian and the translation of the title is 'Or well, or well'. This seems a strange title to me but it looks kinda cool. ;)

I don't know what language this one's in but I think it's my favourite of the covers of the translated versions. They've done quite a few in the series in this edition and I love seeing the different outfits Ivy and Olivia are wearing compared to the ones they were on the original covers. I think the fifth book's my favourite of the ones I've seen so far: (awesome boots!)



The interesting thing about these ones though is that Ivy's actually called Lucy in these versions. I'm guessing this is because ivy has a different meaning in that language or it's not really used as a name or something. Cool that they decided to change it to Lucy, though. Also, in those editions there's apparently an illustrator, so it looks like they have pictures in too. Pretty cool I thought.

Daisy wrote: "Hey you guys! I've just been looking at the different editions of the MSTV books you can get in different countries and here's a couple of them:

I can't be sure bu..."

That's so cool! When I clicked on the first one, it said that it's in Turkish and the last two are in German :) That's interesting that they changed Ivy's name to Lucy but they kept Olivia's name the same, I wonder why. The German covers are nice though and that's pretty cool that there are pictures inside the book too :)

Thanks, Fran! Where does it tell you what language they're in? I was trying to figure that out for ages, lol. Yeah, I thought that was weird that they changed Ivy's name and not Olivia's. I'm kind of in two minds about the pictures. It'd be really cool to see what they look like but I wouldn't want them to be rubbish and mess up what I imagine it all to look like in my head. :D

Daisy wrote: "Thanks, Fran! Where does it tell you what language they're in? I was trying to figure that out for ages, lol. Yeah, I thought that was weird that they changed Ivy's name and not Olivia's. I'm kind ..."

That's fine! I clicked on the pictures you posted and it redirected me to the Goodreads pages for the books and there was a bit that said edition language and it told me there :) Yeah that's a good point about the pictures, I wonder what they're like though and if they resemble how I picture it all haha

Daisy wrote: "Hey you guys! I've just been looking at the different editions of the MSTV books you can get in different countries and here's a couple of them..."

That's really awesome! So strange that they changed Ivy's name.

Ah, I see where it tells you the language now, thanks Fran. I agree I think I'd still want to see the pictures even if they might ruin what I imagine (which let's face it is unlikely). It'd be so cool to have an illustrated edition of MSTV!

Thank you Sophie! I know, it is weird. ;)

So.... I couldn't resist it. I bought a copy of the German edition of Switched. Even though I can't speak German. Yup. That happened.

I'm excited to see it in physical form and now I can say I own at least one of the My Sister the Vamp's in more than one language, not that I ever wanted to say that before! Haha.

I'm so excited that there are other girls who are as obsessed with Sienna Mercer's MSTV & MBTW books as well - this is awesome!!!
Hanna. Lets talk regularly about the books!!! update me about the latest news - anyone know what 18 is called I haven't been lucky enough to read 17 yet :( But hopefully I can get it for my birthday.
I became a fan of MSTV when I was 8. I anticipated long years praying and praying for Sienna Mercer to keep writing more and more - my heartbroken when i finished 16...

Hanna - Doesn't everyone miss the illustrations on books 1-4 - they were ever so pretty and just like I imagined the sisters to be

You guys are all awesome I love you all

please start talking to me asap

Lol, Sophie I can't believe you just went and bought it even though you can't speak German! Can't really blame you though - the temptation of an illustrated MSTV is too much! (omg wouldn't it be so disappointing if it turned out to just be the COVER illustrations it meant when it said 'illustrator')

Hi Lz! I love your excitement about MSTV and MBTW! Welcome to the group. ;) No, as far as we know the 18th book doesn't have a title yet (I have been checking obsessively for it to appear on Goodreads!). Aw, sorry you haven't been able to read book 17 yet. Hopefully you'll be able to soon - it's so good!!

Oops, accidentally posted my comment before it was finished. :D

Yes, definitely, the covers on books 1 - 4 were my favourites. I agree they were really true to how the twins were described and everything. I think all the covers are nice though - I'm glad they kept the basic theme and layout instead of doing a complete cover change. THAT would have been a crime!

Aw, thank you! You're awesome too! :D

Daisy wrote: "Can't really blame you though - the temptation of an illustrated MSTV is too much! (omg wouldn't it be so disappointing if it turned out to just be the COVER illustrations it meant when it said 'illustrator')"

I wouldn't be too disappointed (though maybe a little). That's not the only thing that compelled me to buy it.

Lz wrote: "I'm so excited that there are other girls who are as obsessed with Sienna Mercer's MSTV & MBTW books as well - this is awesome!!!
Hanna. Lets talk regularly about the books!!! update me about the l..."

Wooo! Welcome to the group! I'm so glad you found us. We do love a bit of MSTV & MBTW round these parts. lol.

Lz wrote: "Hanna - Doesn't everyone miss the illustrations on books 1-4 - they were ever so pretty and just like I imagined the sisters to be"

To be honest I didn't even notice that the covers changed after book 4 until Daisy told me. I guess I'm not very observant - oops!

Lz wrote: "You guys are all awesome I love you all"

Aw, you're too kind!

It has arrived! I now have my very own a copy of Allerliebste Vampirschwester. You'll be disappointed Daisy; there are no illustrations inside, unless you count the bunnies at the start of every chapter.

It's so strange flicking through and seeing Lucy mentioned everywhere. I wonder why they decided to change Ivy's name.

The book itself is very pretty, the black flowers around the pick bit are shiny against the matt black which is a really nice touch. As far as what Ivy and Olivia look like on the cover, it's obviously not how I imagine them but it could be worse. I'm not convinced Ivy would wear that dress though.

Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo no illustrations!

In the scene in this book when Ivy and Olivia switch (I think for the first time?) so that Ivy can secretly have lunch with Charlotte, Olivia goes to the library and reads a book which she later tells Brendan about:

Her period in the library had flown by. At first, Olivia had been annoyed that she'd forgotten to bring Thrice Bitten, the latest Count Vira book, with her. But then she'd remembered reading about an old French short story that, according to what she'd seen on a vampire fiction fansite, was one of the first vampire stories ever written. She'd decided to see if they had it.
"The Horla and Other Stories of Guy de Maupassant. It looks like this isn't the first time you've checked this book out, Ivy." the librarian had said when she'd looked at the computer screen.
Olivia had shrugged silently, as she thought Ivy might, had taken the book and started reading . . .
The story had been so awesome that, before Olivia knew it, the bell had rung for the end of lunch.

And this is where she tells Brendan:

He glanced at the cover of her book. "Looks interesting," he said, holding it out to her.
She knew she should just take the book and go, but it really was something that more people should read. "It is. The Horla's about this guy who thinks he's being stalked by a vampire. It, uh, really sucks."
"Yeah?" the boy [Brendan] said, clearly intrigued.
"Yeah. It's all told in diary entries, and this guy doesn't know if he's going crazy or what," explained Olivia.

Then later on Olivia and Ivy mention it again, at Ivy's house:

Olivia turned round, and noticed some words written in big black calligraphy on the stones that ran down the side of the stairway: "The matter is that I never get any rest, and my nights devour my days."
"That is so weird," she murmured. "That's from my Guy de Maupassant story I read in the library today. I even told Brendan to read it!"
"The Horla?" Ivy responded. "It sucks, doesn't it?"
"That's exactly what I told him," grinned Olivia.

I turns out The Horla is actually a real short story, and I just recently read it. It was a really fun and creepy read, it's really short and I loved the writing style, so I can see why Olivia got addicted to it! To me it didn't really feel like a vampire story - the monster was more of a hypnotising, invisible ghost-alien thing, so that was kind of weird. Apparently though it is described as a "species of vampire" at one point. (I don't remember this in the story but this line was referenced in an online summary I read)

Have any of you guys ever heard of The Horla? If you have, what did you think of it? Do you agree with what Olivia and Ivy said about it?

I haven't read The Horla. Would you recommend it? I love it when Sienna Mercer references other pieces of literature in MSTV.

Sure, you'd probably like it. It's really quick and it's an interesting read. :)

I finished re-reading Switched about a week ago and I finally got round to writing out my notes on the group. It's mostly just 'I love this bit, this part is amazing' etc but I thought I'd share anyway! :D

The first interesting thing I noticed was on page 1. Olivia wished she didn't feel so nervous. After all, it wasn't like this was the cheerleading nationals or anything. This could just be a comparison to something Olivia knows would be nerve-wracking but it seems kind of strange to me that she would use that as an example if she has never been. Has Olivia participated in the cheerleading nationals!? That's sounds impressive!

Earlier in this thread I wrote: "...it just says 'A minute later, they'd reached the bottom of the driveway.' They could have crept in the shadows. Also how long is Ivy's driveway?" I found a description of Ivy's house in the book: Olivia stood with Ivy at the end of a willow-lined driveway that led up a small hill. At the top was a house that looked like something out of Gone with the Wind. It had windows that were about fifteen feet tall and a columned front porch that spanned the front of the house. I never imagined Ivy's house was on a hill, that would explain the minute walk down the drive.

On page 112 Olivia was trying to work out what kind of dance would need a top secret meeting in the basement of a supermarket and the only thing she could think of was ...a TV special she'd seen about some girls in Europe who threw massive raves in warehouses. All their planning was top secret because the cops were always trying to bust them. How far from the truth she was and how different the series would have been if she was right, lol.

When Olivia was disguised as Ivy she was late for meeting up with Sophia and made the excuse that she couldn't find her fuzzy backpack. Sophia's mouth dropped open. "You mean my fuzzy backpack that you borrowed and never returned!" Haha, so funny. I love the subtle differences between Ivy and Olivia, things like when Olivia was disguised as Ivy and said 'totally' and Sophia was all 'did you just say totally?' I love it, have I said that yet?

Ivy described sitting next to Brendan in social studies every morning as '...torture. Quite enjoyable torture, admittedly, but still.' Ivy and Brendan's not-dancing scene is, as Olivia put it, either the most romantic thing I've ever heard... or the weirdest. I loved it apart from the electric touch thing a lot of people hate in books. At least they relaxed around each other once they started talking and hanging out a lot more. It's the worst when a couple in a book have been dating for ages and they still feel on edge around each other all the time.

I'd forgotten the part where Ivy and Olivia are in the street talking about how they must have been meant to find each other and then they were hugging and both burst into tears. I LOVE IT SO MUCH! This book sure has cute romantic relationships but never at the expense of deep, meaningful friendships and family time. So many books could learn a thing or two from that!

Took me forever to get around to the reread and commenting on this discussion, but you've got some super interesting comments, as always, Soph!

Firstly I don't think Olivia would have been in the nationals. It's just a reflection of her personality - that's the most nerve-racking situation she can think of, or one she thinks about a lot.

Wow, I really didn't pay attention to that description of Ivy's house. I do remember it being on a hill though. This might sound weird but I kind of imagine Undertaker Hill being a sloped street in itself, then the houses on either side have sloped driveways up to them. That would mean the street was almost in a ditch though so I'm not sure if that's very realistic. The willow-lied driveway is an interesting detail too. When you look up pictures of that, it comes up with crazy long, flat trails - the complete opposite to how I imagine it. It's worth looking up pictures of Gothic houses as well though - a lot of those look similar to how I picture Ivy's.

Oh my gosh that's hilarious, what the series would be like if that was what the meeting was! :D

It's interesting you say that about Ivy and Brendan, because I was definitely on the 'weird' side when I read it this time around. I think I've just become more critical of books, and especially romance, since I first read this, and I picked up on that electricity line same as you. But I didn't mind it that much - having goosebumps around someone you've liked for that long is pretty normal, and they did grow more comfortable around eachother like you say. I thought Ivy's crush was a bit over the top at first, but then again all crushes are a bit over the top, aren't they? Plus the date scene makes up for any little things like that!!! SO. CUTE.

Yep, yep, yep, so agreed with your last point. It says at the end...

"Let's make a pact," Ivy suggested.
"A vampire pact?" asked Olivia.
"No." Ivy rolled her eyes. "A pact between us. A sisterhood pact."
Olivia understood. Cheerleading, dating, the ball - it had all been fun, but there was something more important.

And I think that sums it up really well. I'll never stop geeking out over this amazing book!!

I guess it would have been more of a big deal if Olivia had actually participated in the cheerleading nationals. There's a plot idea for Sienna Mercer! Wait a second, does Olivia still do cheerleading in high school!? I don't remember it in the later books. Is Amelia a cheerleader?

Ivy's house sounds so cool and you're right the gothic houses that show up on google images look a look like I imagine it!

Daisy wrote: "It's interesting you say that about Ivy and Brendan, because I was definitely on the 'weird' side when I read it this time around. I think I've just become more critical of books, and especially romance, since I first read this..."

I totally agree with what you said, 'having goosebumps around someone you've liked for that long is pretty normal' and I have thought before about why I don't like the electric shock when they touch trope in romantic relationships. I think it is because 1) it doesn't symbolise in any way a happy, healthy relationship in which the people are happy to be around each other and 2) getting an electric shock is not the same as being nervous around someone you really like so it's just stupid. It is definitely problematic when it doesn't go away after the people have spent a decent amount of time together (there are plenty of other ways to describe the nice feelings you get from spending time with someone you love without comparing it to pain) but Ivy and Brendan hadn't been talking that long and Ivy had liked Brendan for quite a while. I love those two!

And I LOVE. THAT. QUOTE. <3
These books are life. :D

Ooh, that's a cool plot idea. I can so imagine someone trying to sabotage the contestants in some way (or a vampire planning to compete and reveal themselves or something) so the twins have to save the day!

Hmm, you know I'm not sure either whether she does cheerleading in high school. Maybe because she's so busy with her (view spoiler)[acting career (hide spoiler)] ( < spoiler for books before Start Style {MSTV#8}!) at that point she didn't get the chance, which would be a shame. Noooooo Amelia's a goth, and has a very too-cool-for-everything attitude, especially in the beginning. Somehow I don't think cheerleading would really be her thing!

Great summary of why the 'electric shock' trope is so annoying! Agree!

:D That sounds so cool! Sienna Mercer please write this and dedicate the book to our group, pretty please (but seriously how amazing would that be, I'm fairly certain I would cry).

Ah, that's a shame. Haha oops, sorry Amelia I couldn't remember.

Thanks!

I found more about Olivia's cheerleading escapades in Date with Destiny and commented it on our Olivia Abbott thread (message 20). :)